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June Issue 2005
Fish or Cut Bait Gallery on Edisto Island, SC, Features Works by Three Low Country Artists
A new exhibit, Art Tombé in the Low Country, is on view at the Fish or Cut Bait Gallery on Edisto Island, SC. The exhibit is on view through June 28, 2005. Gallery owner Brailsford Foster is especially excited about this new show because she believes it is the ultimate reflection of the unique creativity that can be found in the low country of South Carolina. The exhibit features three area artists, including Pearce Hammond, Julie Townsley and Debra Garrett.
"Tombé is the Gullah expression for the ultimate, and I believe this show will be the ultimate low country experience," said Foster. "These three artists bring such diverse and unique talents to our gallery, that at first glance you might wonder what ties them all together."
"Each of them has said they have the luxury of having the freedom to completely express themselves in the context of their surroundings," Foster added. "Our area and its Gullah culture have an effect on all of us who have the privilege of living here, but nowhere is that more true than in the arts. I cannot imagine finding these particular talents in any other region of the country."
Pearce Hammond
Pearce Hammond's special talents lie in primitive
paintings which are so reflective of low country life. Using bright
primary colors and acrylic paints, many of his paintings are of
African-Americans on the coast crabbing, shrimping and gathering
oysters. He was born and raised in Savannah, GA, and he draws
on his life experiences in his coastal environment to depict the
unique way of life found in the low country.
"I hope that my work brings attention to all of the natural
beauty of the low country of South Carolina and Georgia and gives
a sense of what life has been like for many generations,"
said Hammond. "Too often we take these things for granted
rather than doing all we can to preserve them for future generations.
I want to give others a sense of mood and appreciation for what
we have here."
Julie
Townsley
Julie Townsley, who lives on Folly Beach, SC, is equally committed to creating the ultimate in her unique art form, which is three dimensional soft-sculpture. She is a firm believer in the premise that art should be created for art's sake.
"I want my art to enlighten and enhance other people's lives," said Townsley. "I want to create happy art that can reach out and touch people all over the world. I have had many other jobs and was actually raised since the age of five to be a professional golfer. I think this competitive spirit has given me the freedom to truly express myself for art's sake and not to please one certain segment of the population."
"I am taking my place in history by using
traditional methods of making art and have extended these methods
beyond what the masters have achieved," Townsley added.
Debra Garrett
Debra Garrett is a jewelry designer who is also a product of the low country. She was born and raised in Charleston, SC, and then moved to California for about ten years before coming back to her southern roots. Having spent these years in the fashion industry, Garrett's talents naturally moved into the area of jewelry design.
"My jewelry is handcrafted with African trade beads, semiprecious gemstones, glass beads and crystals," said Garrett. "They evoke a sense of place to me. My goal is to develop a functional and diverse line of clothing and jewelry that complement each other and ties into the lifestyle of the sea island culture of South Carolina."
For further information check our SC Commercial Gallery listings or call the gallery at 843/869-2511.
Carolina Arts is published monthly by Shoestring Publishing Company, a subsidiary of PSMG, Inc. Copyright© 2004 by PSMG, Inc., which published Charleston Arts from July 1987 - Dec. 1994 and South Carolina Arts from Jan. 1995 - Dec. 1996. It also publishes Carolina Arts Online, Copyright© 2004 by PSMG, Inc. All rights reserved by PSMG, Inc. or by the authors of articles. Reproduction or use without written permission is strictly prohibited. Carolina Arts is available throughout North & South Carolina.